The state’s Groundwater Coordinating Council is urging lawmakers to do more to address nitrate contamination in groundwater, calling it one of Wisconsin’s top water contamination concerns.  The council at the end of August submitted its latest annual report to the Legislature, providing an overview of groundwater quality and quantity in

Wisconsin’s median hourly wage hit a record high of $25.01 last year, as stronger wage growth for lower-paid workers helped cut wage inequality in the state.  That’s according to this year’s State of Working Wisconsin report from the High Road Strategy Center, a left-leaning nonprofit think tank based at UW-Madison.

Wisconsin Technology Council President Tom Still says AI and the rise of data centers are “going to be good for the state as we become more of a hub.” But he also said related energy demands will need to be carefully managed.  Still was the featured guest during yesterday’s Greater

Dem lawmakers are circulating legislation that would require certain retailers to include tariff-related costs in sales receipts or invoices.  Sen. Brad Pfaff of Onalaska, along with Reps. Andrew Hysell of Sun Prairie, Mike Bare of Verona, Priscilla Prado of Milwaukee, Maureen McCarville of DeForest and Christian Phelps of Eau Claire,

The Boldt Company aims to play an active role in data center development in Wisconsin as the state attracts attention from developers and more of these projects arise.  Dale Lewis, the Appleton-based company’s recently appointed director of data centers, yesterday discussed the path ahead for Boldt’s new division focused on

Lawmakers are seeking to change state law around renting mobile and manufactured homes, saying the effort would protect tenants amid the state’s housing shortage.  Sen. Jesse James, R-Thorp, and Rep. Scott Krug, R-Rome, yesterday sent a cosponsorship memo to other lawmakers on the legislation, LRB 2426/4483. They point to limited

A visual effects executive says “there needs to be guardrails” on AI as the technology becomes increasingly skilled at producing high-quality images and animation. Scott Ross, who co-founded the Academy Award-winning studio Digital Domain Inc., discussed this topic during last week’s Forward Fest in Madison. Ross led Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light

Statewide home sales in July dipped 0.3% over the year as home prices and total listings increased over the same period, the Wisconsin Realtors Association reports.  The group’s July report shows 6,820 homes were sold in Wisconsin last month, down slightly from 6,843 in July 2024. At the same time,

Under the recently signed contract between WEDC and Eli Lilly and Company, the pharmaceutical business is eligible for up to $18 million in tax credits for job creation and $82 million for capital investment.  The contract, which was signed Tuesday, includes more detail about the Enterprise Zone tax credit agreement

A Madison-based startup called Strudel has won this year’s Pressure Chamber pitch competition with its AI-based tech support platform.  The contest was held yesterday afternoon at The Sylvee music venue in Madison as part of Forward Fest, an annual event series focused on entrepreneurship and technology.  Strudel’s co-founder and CEO,

Legislation being circulated by Republican authors would prevent local municipalities from enacting “rights of nature” ordinances that provide certain legal rights to natural resources.  That includes the right to exist, to be protected against pollution or to maintain a healthy ecosystem, according to analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau. Sen.

Sentry Equipment plans to lean more on AI to support further growth, as the technology is expected to help address the company’s skilled labor concerns.  That’s according to Marcease Warren, vice president of manufacturing for the Oconomowoc-based industrial machinery company. It makes equipment for portable filtration, sample automation, coolant recycling

Republican lawmakers are circulating legislation from last session that would allow patients in Wisconsin health care facilities to receive visitors during public health emergencies, with various restrictions in place.  Sen. André Jacque, R-New Franken, and Rep. Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, recently sent out a cosponsorship memo for LRB 4368/1 and 0049/1,

A recent global survey of manufacturers from Milwaukee’s Rockwell Automation finds integrating new technology has become the top internal obstacle.  The company yesterday released its 10th annual State of Smart Manufacturing Report, which includes survey results from 1,560 respondents across 17 of the top countries for manufacturing. The online survey

Republican lawmakers are seeking to create a “farmland link” program that would help connect potential buyers with agricultural land.  Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, this week began circulating a cosponsorship memo for the legislation, LRB-3225/1 and LRB 4320/1, which would create the program.  It would

An economist with UW-Madison says GDP growth is a poor indicator of the economy’s current trajectory, as other factors suggest a national slowdown amid tariffs and related uncertainty.  Menzie Chinn, a professor in the university’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, discussed this topic during the latest Wisconsin Foundation and

Realta Fusion and research partners at UW-Madison are aiming to publish an early design for a commercial-scale fusion energy pilot device next year.  The Madison-based startup and partners at the university recently issued two studies detailing breakthroughs made by the company’s computational physics team.  These scientists have developed a unique

Advanced technology use in construction is “still in its adolescence” despite many companies planning to integrate AI, according to a report from Milwaukee-based advisory firm Wipfli.  The company this week issued its latest report on the state of technology in construction, which relies on survey results gathered from businesses of

A five-county region in central Wisconsin will need more than 11,000 additional housing units by 2040 to meet projected demand, according to a study from economic development group Centergy.  The organization, which focuses on Adams, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage and Wood counties, yesterday released its Regional Housing Study. It highlights the

UW-Madison has launched the Wisconsin Entrepreneurship Hub, which will take a new “founder-focused” approach to supporting startup growth at the university.  That’s according to Jon Eckhardt, a professor at the Wisconsin School of Business who was appointed as a special advisor to the entrepreneurship initiative. It was launched recently after